Italy school system faces criticism over disability support failures

Families and students in Italy are highlighting systemic failures in the educational support system for individuals with disabilities and social isolation.

In Reggio Emilia, 17-year-old Aurora Striparo, who lives with hikikomori (social withdrawal), has seen her educational continuity disrupted. Despite a documented need for stability, the school transferred the support teacher with whom she had built a vital bond of trust. This connection had previously helped her engage with the outside world, such as attending an award ceremony in Turin.

In the Vibonese region, the parents of Carol, a 15-year-old with severe motor and cognitive disabilities, have denounced a lack of essential professional staff at the Zungri school complex. The family reports that the school lacks the required support teachers, autonomy assistants, and trained staff to manage Carol’s complex medical needs, including feeding via PEG and personal hygiene. Consequently, her mother must attend the school daily to provide this care, a situation the family describes as an unacceptable burden that compromises the student's right to education.